Town boss Paul Hurst is reported to be eyeing Barnsley striker Tom Bradshaw and Bristol Rovers frontman Ellis Harrison as speculation regarding Martyn Waghorn’s future continues.

According to the Daily Mirror, Hurst, who said yesterday he couldn’t guarantee that Waghorn would still be with the Blues by the time the season gets under way, is a fan of Bradshaw and Harrison.

Wales international Bradshaw was linked with the Blues, QPR and Reading in January, while Millwall and Hull City are believed to have shown interest over the summer. Bradshaw is expected to leave Oakwell following the Tykes’ relegation to League One.

The 25-year-old started his career with Aberystwyth Town before moving on to hometown club Shrewsbury and then Walsall, prior to joining the South Yorkshiremen for £650,000 in the summer of 2016.

Bradshaw, who is 6ft tall, was a regular for Barnsley last season, scoring 12 goals. His Oakwell contract runs to the summer of 2019.

Harrison, 24, a former Wales U21 international, came through the youth system at the Memorial Stadium and has played all his senior games for the Pirates aside from a short spell on loan at Hartlepool early in 2016.

Last season the Newport-born forward scored 14 goals. In total for Bristol Rovers he has made 116 starts and 88 sub appearances, scoring 49 times. Blackburn Rovers were previously reported to be eyeing Harrison.

Sheffield United, Derby County, Middlesbrough and Birmingham City have all shown interest in Waghorn this summer, while Nottingham Forest have also been linked.

Photo: Action Images

ArnieM added 12:33 - Jul 20 I can only assume Waghorn would be open to a move further North. Wonder if Didsy has had some input here ? !
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casanovacrow added 13:04 - Jul 20 As much as we all would love to have Waghorn it seems like Hurst needs a significant change round of players to play his style of football (not surprising as we have been playing anti-football for 6 years). This will cost money and Waghorn is the only asset that we could use to pay for it. I can't see another solution, we have huge gaps that need filling in a very short time. We just have to make sure we get the going rate and not be taken for mugs on both incoming and outgoing transfers.

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TimmyH added 13:15 - Jul 20 Half_idiot, plays for Barnsley mate...now in league 1 so a lower tier player we are NOW looking at. Sorry for splitting hairs :)
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Dog added 13:16 - Jul 20 Been here before haven't we. Sell out best striker (Bent) and replace with League 1 potential (Parkin) and that worked out well. We have money in the pot and spare wage capacity and yet with only two weeks to go we are only linked with selling players. We do not need to sell to purchase as we have almost 4 million in sells and Fifa contribution left. I am looking forward to the West ham game to see if the anti-football stops. I hope so, but have strong reservations as his previous club averaged just over a goal per game. Sort it out ME, negotiate, loosen the purse strings and purchase.

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BlueandTruesince82 added 13:28 - Jul 20 We need a striker anyway, truth be told Garner and Sears don't really fit the PH mould and I would expect to see both move on in the next 6 to 12 months..... quicker if someone else comes As for Waggs hope he stays, be v keen to see how the money is used if he goes. The club are working on getting players in no doubt so need to be a bit patient thete.
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PositivelyPortman added 13:29 - Jul 20 Has anybody thought that perhaps one of these two strikers is the addition PH is looking at to compliment Waggy??
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Len_Brennan added 13:29 - Jul 20 Waghorn's style is not a natural fit for how we assume Hurst wants to set up the team. While he would be an assets in any position up front, he is neither a commanding centre forward nor a speedy, direct winger confronted to a front man. Hurst will most likely be playing 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 and may feel there are other player better suited to playing the forward positions, as he sees the game played. I'm sure he would genuinely like to keep Waghorn, who is a decent guy & whole hearted footballer on top of being skilful & dangerous from set plays, but £8m -£10m would be a great fee for him. Presuming he'll get a decent whack of that money (& I think he'll insist on it), Hurst probably backs himself to find the type of players who naturally fill the rolls he has in mind. In fact, I would imagine he has already made progress in that regard, in expectation of someone meeting our valuation. If that is the case, it would make sense for him to have given yesterday's interview in order to speed up the inevitable & allow him to get replacements/additions in ahead of the chaos of transfer deadline day. As an aside, I wonder what the situation with Danny Ward of Cardiff (formerly Rotherham) is now. Picked up an injury & missed a fair bit of last season, causing Cardiff to spent a lot of money on Madine. Since going up they brought in others, so he might be available, if fit. He's a decent centre forward at Championship level & would play the role I think Hurst has in mind for the one up front through the centre. ... If fit.

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Len_Brennan added 13:31 - Jul 20 Ha! *Converted that should be of course.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 13:31 - Jul 20 And let's be clear- it is v obvious the club is NOT actively looking to sell Waghorn. The links are a result of other clubs desire to sign him. Nowt we can do about that other than try and tend them off
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Millsey added 13:36 - Jul 20 When we signed them from Rangers, my Scot mates who I work with in Nigeria said we were welcome to them as they didn't rate them ??????
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gazzer1999 added 13:39 - Jul 20 I guess as Waggy's contract only runs to 2019, I guess the best thing to do is sell if a very good offer is made, or give him a longer contract. I think Hurst only says that he can't guarantee he will be here is because he is not aware of the size of offer made. I think like most on here he would prefer him to stay, but every player has his price, if its 10 million for waggy, then sell its to good to turn down, however if he would prefer to stay just give him a better contract.

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jabberjackson added 13:43 - Jul 20 Dog, we sold Bent and got Parkin - rubbish - agreed we sold Johnson and got Mariner - amazing have some faith in Hurst - I do!
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OwainG1992 added 13:45 - Jul 20 See I'd be happy to bring in either of these but keep Waghorn and Garner too. Need to move forwards not backwards.
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tractorboybig added 13:58 - Jul 20 running out...….. surely moving on NOT up?
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Carberry added 14:03 - Jul 20 I can't believe we are still living in a dream world of sell a player for £8m and buy 3 for £8m. Players are sold to finance the running of the club so the owner can stop putting his hand in his pocket. Maybe Hurst will get some funds but he's fishing in the small ponds just like McCarthy was. That is the reality, however much we wish otherwise.
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shoopdelang added 14:36 - Jul 20 Should be looking to keep waghorn and sign one of these in my opinion.
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locky81 added 15:07 - Jul 20 I wish people would stop saying Waggy is a one season wonder! I don't think 27goals in 57games for Rangers & 16goals in 44games for Town are bad stats for the past 3 seasons! I would much rather take a punt on him performing again, than risk it on one of these lower league players. Lets be honest we were poor last year, our play was so negative and we lost our entire creative midfield for the whole season but he still scored so many goals. We cant keep taking too many risks, I agree some of the league01 players will prob work out but we cant expect PH to be a miracle worker. 100% we cannot let Waggy go. I think weve got rid of a lot of the dead wood now, we just need get additional players in, not sell all our best ones to rivals. Onwards and upwards! COYB

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nysully added 15:43 - Jul 20 This is very tough to say but remember when we did not sell Murphy or Didz when they were at their peak, never reproduces their best form again be it injuries or anvancong years. If someone offers 10m for Waghorn you almost have to sell him and rolls the dice with reinvestment (assuming ME makes the money available to be seen spent). This is what Hurst has already said, DJ t want to sell but everyone has a price where you almost have to say yes.

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Northstandveteran added 15:57 - Jul 20 New hungry manager, New players aiming to impress, youth coming through, fresh start. Isn't this what the majority of posters that are now complaining wanted?! I certainly did!
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GTRKing added 16:31 - Jul 20 If we do sell Waghorn it will be £8.5ml+ He has said he is happy here & don't wanna leave So let's trust Paul hurst he will get more players in. I know that shrews CB most likely a done deal & will be completed in the next few days (Unless something happens) So hopefully this will a good season 😊
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 17:34 - Jul 20 Bradshaw was not a success at Shrewsbury, but he was only a youngster their. He is more in the mould of Sears, so wouldnt be a good signing IMO.
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 17:38 - Jul 20 *there!
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warktheline added 19:29 - Jul 20 Two things: 1, it's good to see our club not wanting to sell its top striker, and will only for a considerable sum! 2, it's extremely good to see our club linked to many players, and not 'journey men'! COYB!!!
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Warkys_Tash added 22:40 - Jul 20 Rhodes to Naaarwich on a season long loan - thats a Wounder too!!
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Wooly added 07:29 - Jul 21 If you decide to go with a lower league manager, you are faced with attracting lower league players. I was one who clearly stated ‘be careful what you wish for' and now that comment echos around my head. I'm anything but inspired by PH at present (and believe me I so hope that I am wrong and on here acknowledging the fact a few months into this season), but the fact is the bookies are seldom that wrong. We have taken a lower league sports science mad average manager and propelled him into probably one of the most difficult leagues in the World. Whilst most of you will disagree with my comments, I hardly see any team and/or club officials racing to the phone to take a call from PH and whilst you might hate me for saying this, those same people are much more likely to pick up the phone and discuss experienced or young promising players on the phone with MM. You don't know how much I want to be wrong here, but I've been watching this game for a very long time (and played it previously at quite a high level), it's the way football works. It's not what you know, but as much who you know. In PH I'm really not convinced and if we get off to a poor start, I wonder how long it is for several of the (at times) vile Ipswich followers to pick up their over opinionated mouth organs and keyboards and be out there bringing the players and staff confidence down. RIP our beloved club...

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